We've Been HERE a lot...

We have absolutely LOVED going to the zoo this summer! Cooper loves seeing the animals...but he especially LOVES riding the "choo-choo". He can narrate the trip..he knows where the hippo stays, where the cranes are, when we go through the tunnel, pass the flamingos, and then the choo-choo goes "night-night"! It is so much fun to just be with him these days! I am amazed at how much he remembers and that he can now somewhat tell us what he is thinking! Although he hasn't been much of a talker, he has really just been taking everything in, and now he tells us a little bit of what goes on in that busy little mind of his! We have gone to visit the zoo late in the afternoon quite often! It's a great time to go for several reasons~no crowds, it's not AS hot, and it's feeding time for the animals so they're up and moving a lot more! That's how we got to see the red panda eating his dinner one night! Cooper stood and watched him for a very long time! He just kept saying, "he eat-in"! He also loves to feed the fish and the turtles! He has also fed those crazy lorikeets...but just once! Mostly, we watch Daddy from OUTSIDE the fence! We have had a BLAST with him this summer! I wish that I could freeze himin this precious stage of life that he is in right now...but then I remember that there are many precious memories to come! We are so blessed to be the parents of this sweet little boy!

Cooper's First Trip to the Emergency Room....

happened on Mother's Day Weekend...and I JUST came across the pictures and realized that I never blogged about it! On Saturday morning Cooper was playing in his room, Jared was busy in the back of the house, pretty sure I was doing laundry (because it was Saturday and that's just what I do every Saturday). All of a sudden, I hear glass shatter...followed by Cooper SCREAMING! I run into the kitchen to see him standing in the middle of a broken snow globe which usually is in his closet...have no idea how he got in there! Anyway, I look down to his foot which is bloody and I tell myself over and over to "remain calm" as I carry him to a sink near Jared (in case I cannot remain calm or pass out first). He had a gash on the side of his foot which basically went down his entire foot! We got it to stop bleeding, he acted REALLY pitiful, we watched Nemo and ate popsicles on the couch. Then he took a nap. When he got up the huge band-aid had LOTS of blood on it, so I called the after hours nurse and she sent us to Children's (the one downtown). I would simply HATE to go back to Acton Road unless ABSOLUTELY necessary! Remember I said Cooper was acting REALLY pitiful?? I mean he was not putting ANY pressure at all on his foot, and we really could not tell how bad it was because it started bleeding so badly when we tried to look. No kidding, as soon as we got to our room in the ER, he was running around, jumping on their bed, spinning on the stools, etc. He even let the doctor flush it out with saline~OUCH! (to make sure there was no glass in it)where he would scream like he was dying if we even touched it! So...basically they wrapped it in some gauze, kissed the boo-boo and sent us on our merry way! Later when he would let us near it, we realized that he basically just took off a little layer of skin BUT better to error on the side of caution...right??? Even if we're tagged as overreactive parents?

Zoo Members

Before the summer started, we decided to become zoo members! It was the BEST money we've ever spent! We have gone A LOT...and we're having Coop's birthday party there! These pictures are a few of my favorites from the first 2 trips of the summer. On Saturday mornings, you can get REALLY up close and personal with the giraffes. You can feed them!!! Cooper LOVED feeding them...wasn't scared the least little bit! I,on the other hand, was a little intimidated by their tongues which are as long as my arm (probably)! I also love how he's holding his little arms out trying to "catch" a butterfly in that exhibit! He had a BLAST playing on the splash pad! He kept trying to catch it with his hands AND in his mouth. He also tried to swim in it which was hilarious! He's very creative sometimes, and definitely has a picture in his mind of how things should work..even if it doesn't always turn out that way! He's a lot of FUN right now! We remind ourselves of how much fun he is when he is right in the middle of a "terrible two tantrum" which is NOT fun in any way! Just all part of it, I suppose!

A Visit From Grammy and PawPaw

Grammy and PawPaw came to visit a couple of weeks ago! We had lots of fun! They brought Cooper an Easter basket that was a HUGE sand basket filled with candy and tons of toys for the beach!!! Sissy also came to visit and we all went to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and playing! Cooper had lots of fun watching and joining PawPaw and Daddy play basketball! When we left he had enough tickets to get a Chuck E. Cheese ball of his very own! Perfect!

Easter Festivities

5 Wonderful Years

On April 10th(yes~over a month ago) Jared and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary!! Since this was the only Friday Jared would be home in the month of April~I took the day off of work just to spend it with him! He let me sleep in while he took Cooper to Mrs. Barbara's. When he came home, he cooked me breakfast and served it to me in bed! We then got ready for a whole day of just enjoying one another. We went to lunch at P.F Chang's and then headed to the Botanical Gardens. It was so beautiful, peaceful, and wonderful. It was so nice just to walk holding hands and talk, or not talk, and just exist with one another. AFter the Botanical Gardens, we both went to pick up Coop and spend the afternoon with him. Jared's mom came over and Jared and I went to dinner at The Tavern at the Summit. It was delicious! Since it was early, we decided to drive up to the Vulcan and look out over the city and talk more. It was a wonderful day of celebrating our wonderful marriage! I am so blessed to be his wife. God gave me such a precious gift in him!

RUNNING WAY BEHIND!!

So, I haven't posted in over a month!!! I have a great excuse! Jared has been working (and living) out of town (except on weekends) for the past five weeks!!! So, pretty much when Cooper went to bed, I quickly followed! While Daddy was out of town...we went to the park A LOT!!! Here are a few cute pics I snapped while we were playing!